HUP0203967A2 - Antenna mast and device for adjusting an antenna orientation - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a support structure for planar antennas, in particular for repeater antennas of mobile telecommunications network(s), which support structure includes a stand element, mainly an antenna mast, and devices for securing the two antennas (2) on the stand element, which also provide control of the orientation of the antennas (2) in terms of tilt angle and azimuth . The essence of the invention is that the support structure, assigned to the two antennas (2) carried by the stand element and placed next to each other, includes fixing devices allowing them to be turned relative to each other, around two hinge axes (23a, 31), with the help of the fixing devices, the antennas (2) can be turned from an arrangement that in which the two antennas (2) are located close to each other and are oriented according to the same azimuth, to an arrangement in which the two antennas (2) are oriented according to different azimuths in a spaced position. The invention also relates to a device for adjusting the angle of inclination of an antenna (2), mainly a planar antenna, mounted on a stand element, for example an antenna mast, by means of fixing devices allowing the regulation of the antenna orientation. and contains a protractor consisting of two protractors connected by hinges. HE

Description

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SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR PLANAR ANTENNAS AND DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING ANTENNA ADJUSTMENT

The invention relates to a support structure for at least one or at least two planar antennas, in particular for repeater antennas of mobile telecommunications network(s), where these antennas are mounted on a stand element designed as an antenna mast.

The invention also relates to a device for controlling the alignment of such antennas on the scaffolding element, especially the antenna mast, to which they are mounted.

It is known that the repeater antennas of a mobile telecommunications network are flat antennas mounted on antenna masts, which are installed in prominent locations, for example on the roofs or terraces of properties in urban environments.

The aim of the invention is to find a solution for a more perfect fixation of such antennas and for a more advantageous control of the orientation of these antennas.

The invention proposes several structures that can be used independently or in combination with each other.

1) According to the invention, we first propose a mounting structure that allows multiple flat antennas to be mounted on the same antenna mast, but at the same time allows the position, i.e. tilt angle, of each antenna to be adjusted.

97142-1913 Independent adjustment of the azimuth (lateral orientation according to the cardinal directions) of the Sps/str.

The mounting device according to the invention in particular allows the orientation of two adjacent antennas mounted on the same antenna mast to be controlled, depending on the type of configuration desired, in such a way that: . these two antennas are adjusted to two different azimuths (when the two antennas can be used, for example, within the same network), . these two antennas are adjusted so that they are located essentially in a common plane - which allows the use of these antennas in two different networks when oriented to the same azimuth (where one may be, for example, a DCS 1800, the other a UMTS (second generation mobile phone) network, while the two antennas can remain independent of each other in terms of tilt angle control).

According to the invention, therefore, for the above purpose, we propose a support structure for at least two planar antennas, in particular for repeater antennas of mobile telecommunications networks, which comprises a stand element, mainly an antenna mast, and means for securing the two antennas to the stand element, which are also means for regulating the orientation of the antennas in terms of inclination and azimuth, and in addition, the support structure comprises fixing means for the two antennas carried by the stand element and placed side by side on it, allowing their rotation relative to each other about two axes, by means of which the antennas can be rotated from an arrangement in which the two antennas are located close to each other and oriented according to the same azimuth, to an arrangement in which the two antennas are oriented according to different azimuths in a position spaced apart from each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting means for controlling the tilt angle orientation include means allowing the antenna to be pivoted about a vertical axis and also to be tilted about a horizontal axis, preferably a hinge assembly, arms, a horizontal hinge axis and slot openings.

2) According to the invention, we also propose a particularly advantageous control system, which is particularly simple to assemble and allows both the operating location and the azimuth adjustment without having to maintain a significant amount of space around the support structure, while at the same time allowing the adjustment and maintenance operations to be carried out at human height.

According to the invention, we therefore propose a support structure for at least one planar antenna, in particular a repeater antenna of a mobile telecommunications network, which comprises a stand element and a fixing unit for securing the antenna to the stand element, which fixing unit comprises first connecting means which are attached to the stand element and on which the antenna is hingedly pivoted about a horizontal axis, and which further comprises second connecting means for tilting the antenna about a horizontal axis, with user control, and this support structure is characterized in that the second connecting means comprise at least one arm which is hingedly pivoted at both ends, on the one hand to the stand element or to other devices fixed thereon, and on the other hand to the antenna or to devices inserted between the antenna and the arm, the hinge axes of the arm being parallel to the tilt axes of the antenna, and these means allowing one and/or the other axis to be adjusted in the height direction of the stand element or the antenna. are designed.

Preferably, these devices comprise an intermediate element, preferably a guide and adjustment assembly, in which at least one slot is formed, in which the hinge shaft is slidably arranged.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the intermediate element, preferably the guide and adjustment assembly, comprises a set screw extending parallel to the slot opening, which is arranged to cooperate, on the one hand, with a screw thread penetrating a hinge shaft connected thereto and arranged movably in the slot opening or an element attached thereto, and on the other hand with a screw thread also connected thereto and penetrating an element fixed relative to the intermediate element.

According to the invention, a solution is also possible in which a clamping device is attached to the stand element, where this stand element is an antenna mast, on which the devices defining the tilt axis of the antenna and the devices defining the hinge axis of the connecting arm(s) are pivotally mounted.

Preferably, the mounting means is a mounting bracket which is extended by at least one fixed arm, at the end of which the antenna or the support carrying it is pivotally connected about a horizontal axis.

Such a structural design has the advantage that it allows a planar antenna - and in particular a dual-band antenna - to be fixed to a single fixing point of the supporting structure, optionally the antenna mast.

3) According to the invention, we further propose a solution for designing a support structure that simultaneously enables the antenna to be stiffened and the antenna radiation loop behind the antenna to be monitored.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing a support structure for at least one planar antenna, in particular a repeater antenna of a mobile telecommunications network, which comprises an antenna mast and means for securing the antenna to the antenna mast, wherein these securing means include an antenna support on which the antenna is mounted, and this support structure is characterized according to the invention in that the antenna support comprises at least one stiffening element and a metallic reflecting element placed between the antenna and this stiffening element.

Preferably, the stiffening element is a U-shaped cross-section beam.

4) The invention also relates to a device for adjusting the angle of inclination of an antenna, especially a planar antenna, mounted on a stand element, for example an antenna mast, by means of fastening means allowing the antenna orientation to be controlled, which is characterized in that:

- a rigid support, a fixing device for attaching the support to the scaffolding element, for example an antenna mast, and

- it contains a protractor consisting of two protractor arms mounted on the support and articulated with each other.

The antenna adjustment device according to the invention preferably comprises parallel level adjustment arms for moving the elements forming the protractor relative to the support, while its fastening device is preferably of a strap design.

It should be noted that the advantage of the various solutions according to the invention is that they are all simple and cost-effective.

Moreover, the various solutions of the supporting structure according to the invention are also advantageous from an aesthetic point of view, since due to their simplicity, the antenna masts can be particularly well integrated into their environment.

The antenna support structure and antenna adjustment device according to the invention are described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an antenna support structure that can be fixed at a point on the antenna mast;

Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a detail of the tilt control unit of the support structure shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3a and 3b illustrate two possible versions of the installation of the tilt control unit shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional view of one possible way of mounting the antenna;

Figure 5 shows another possible antenna support structure, in a schematic side view similar to Figure 1;

Figure 6 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a part of the devices forming the supporting structure according to Figure 5;

Figures 7a and 7b show two different arrangements that can be implemented with two antennas mounted on a support structure of the type shown in Figures 5 and 6;

Figures 8a and 8b illustrate two possible mounting methods for the type of support structure shown in Figures 5 and 6; while

Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a tilt-control antenna adjustment device.

Custom mount antenna

Figure 1 shows a vertically extending antenna mast 1, on which an antenna 2, optionally in the form of a planar antenna, is mounted by means of a mounting unit 3.

This mounting unit 3 allows the antenna 2 to be mounted at a single point on the antenna mast 1.

The mounting unit 3 comprises a mounting clamp 4, which is formed from two clamp halves joined together and which can be mounted on the antenna mast 1 by pressing the clamp halves together.

Each of the two clamp halves is semi-cylindrical, which is extended on both sides in the plane of the cylinder diameter by a flat side flange 5. The inner diameter of this semi-cylindrical shape essentially corresponds to the outer diameter of the antenna mast 1. Screw connections 6 mounted on the flat side flanges 5 enable the half-cylinders to be fixed to each other and pressed onto the antenna mast 1.

The mounting bracket 4 is connected to a support 9 forming a stiffening element, which carries the antenna 2. The connection between the mounting bracket 4 and the support 9 is realized by means of the following elements:

- on the one hand, with two arms 7, which form one piece with the two sections forming the fixing clamp 4 and extend from these sections perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the antenna mast 1, where the holder 9 is mounted on the arms 7 in a manner that can be pivoted about a horizontal axis 7a, at one end thereof,

- on the other hand, with two arms 8, which are pivotally attached at one end to the ends of the side edges 5, which are located directly opposite the support 9, about a hinge axis 10 perpendicular to the side edges 5.

The arms 8 can be pivoted at their other ends around a hinge axis 11 slidably mounted in the slots 12 of a guide and adjustment assembly 13 screwed to the holder 9.

In the case of such a structural design as shown in Figure 2, this guide and adjustment assembly 13 consists of an elongated U-shaped section (bent metal sheet) in which the slot openings 12 extend opposite each other in the height direction of the two side wings of the U-shaped section.

An adjusting screw 14 extends through the U-shaped guide and adjustment assembly 13, which is engaged on the one hand by a screw thread 15 with a matching thread pitch and penetrating perpendicularly through the hinge axis 11, and on the other hand by a screw thread 16 of an element 16 fixedly installed inside the U-shaped guide and adjustment assembly 13, above or below the slots 12, also with a thread pitch matching the adjusting screw 14.

Figures 3a and 3b illustrate two possible ways of attaching the guide and adjustment assembly 13 to the support 9 forming a stiffening element, where the support 9 is U-shaped to match the shape of the guide and adjustment assembly 13. In the embodiment according to Figure 3a, the guide and adjustment assembly 13 is inserted into the support 9 in such a way that its bottom is located inside the latter; in the embodiment according to Figure 3b, on the other hand, the guide and adjustment assembly 13 is inserted into the support 9 in an inverted position so that its bottom is located outside the latter. In both cases, the slots 12 are located outside the support 9, freely accessible. The two parts, i.e. the support 9 and the guide and adjustment assembly 13, are fastened to each other by screwing or welding.

The advantage of a mounting structure of this type is that it forms a not too bulky unit on the antenna mast 1.

This mounting structure allows for equally good control and adjustment of both the tilt angle, the azimuth orientation, and the vertical position.

To adjust the antenna's operating location and vertical position, it is sufficient to loosen the screw connections 6 and rotate the mounting clamp 4 around the antenna mast 1 to raise or lower the clamp.

To adjust the azimuth orientation, the adjusting screw 14 is turned from below, depending on whether the hinge shaft 11 needs to be raised or lowered in the slots 12, thereby tilting the holder 9 and with it the antenna 2 in one direction or the other.

It can be observed that the structural design of the support(s) 9 forming the stiffening element, in addition to allowing the antennas 2 to be held much higher than the attachment points on the antenna masts 1, also has the advantage of allowing the installation of reflective elements directly behind the antennas 2, thus allowing the control of their backward antenna radiation loop.

This is illustrated in Figure 4, which shows a metallic reflecting element 18 inserted between the support 9 and the antenna 2.

Universal mounting

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a different structural arrangement. In this embodiment, the fastening clamp 4 used as the fastening means is longer than in the single-point version of Figure 1, which fastening clamp 4 is formed here from a half-cylinder 19 pressed onto the antenna mast 1 by means of three half-clamps 20, where the half-clamps 20 are distributed along the height of the fastening clamp 4 and close onto the half-cylinder 19.

The half-cylinder 19 carries support feet 21 which extend radially therefrom and which form supports on which various supports 9 each carrying an antenna 2 are mounted so as to be pivotable about vertical axes.

More specifically, in the example shown in Figures 5 and 6, the half-cylinder 19 carries two pairs of support feet 21 which extend radially and are rotated 120° relative to each other, while the support feet 21 forming a pair are arranged one below the other, and each pair of support feet 21 carries a support 9 forming a stiffening element and an antenna 2.

The lower part of the support 9 associated with the support feet 21 forming one pair is attached to the lower support foot 21 of the pair by means of a hinge assembly 22, which on the one hand allows the support 9 to be rotated about a vertical axis 23a and on the other hand allows the support 9 to be tilted about a horizontal axis 24, which is pivotally mounted on the axis 24 of the support 9.

This support 9 is otherwise attached to the other support base 21 of the pair of support bases mentioned by means of a fastening unit which comprises devices similar to the arms 8, the hinge axes 10 and 11 and the guiding and adjusting assembly 13 of the structure according to Figure 1, and optionally consists of arms 25 which can be pivoted about a horizontal hinge axis 26 which can be slidable in the slots 27 of a guiding and adjusting assembly 28 at one end, and which can also be pivoted about a horizontal hinge axis 30 of a connecting assembly 29 at the other end.

The connecting assembly 29 itself is mounted on the aforementioned support base 21 in a hinged manner about a vertical axis 31.

In this way, two antennas arranged side by side can be aligned in very different ways relative to each other, similar to the arrangements illustrated in Figures 7a and 7b.

In the case of Figure 7a, two antennas 2 mounted on the same antenna mast 1 and arranged side by side are used to cover two different areas (azimuths) facing the same direction, for example within the same network.

In the case of Figure 7b, the same two antennas 2 are rotated about vertical axes 31 to be arranged in a common plane, which allows, for example, to be used to cover a range (azimuth) facing the same direction for two different networks, starting from the same antenna mast 1.

In both cases, orientation controls are implemented, more specifically, control of the tilt angle and vertical position, in the same way as in the case of the structural arrangement described with reference to Figure 1 .

As can be easily seen, this structural design also has the advantage of occupying limited space.

Incidentally, one of the advantages of the adjustable mounting by means of arms slidable in slots, illustrated with reference to Figures 1-4 and Figures 5, 6, 7a, and 7b, is that it allows the orientation of the antennas to be adjusted and controlled without having to access the antenna mast 1 behind the support 9, as is customary in the prior art.

The orientation is adjusted by turning the adjusting screw 14, which is pulled in the guiding and adjusting assembly 13, on which the guiding slots 12 are formed. In the case of the mounting method shown in Figure 2, access to this adjusting screw 14 is provided from the space below the antenna 2.

It can be seen that such a mounting method can be used, for example, in the case where one or more antennas are fixed to a wall M (see Figure 8a), which may optionally form a scaffolding element instead of an antenna mast, or in the case of an antenna mast or scaffolding element placed on the other side of a safety guard P (see Figure 8b), since the proposed mounting method has the advantage of allowing easy adjustment of the orientation even in the cases illustrated in these figures.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a protractor 32 for use in an antenna mounting system, which is suitable for adjusting the angle of inclination. The protractor 32 comprises a rigid support 34 attached to the antenna mast 1 by means of a mounting device 33, where the mounting device 33 is in appearance a strap-type mounting device, but could also be magnetic. The support 34 is connected to one of the protractor arms 35 of the protractor 32 via parallel leveling arms 36, which together with the support 34 and the protractor arm 35 define an openable parallelepiped. Another protractor arm 37, which can be hinged, is mounted on the protractor arm 35, and together they form a protractor enabling angle measurement.

A device carrying a degree scale may also be associated with the protractor 32 to enable the user to measure the opening angle between the protractor stem 35 and the protractor stem 37 of the protractor 32.

If the user wishes to adjust or measure the tilt angle of the support 9 of an antenna 2, he mounts the protractor 32 on the antenna mast 1, raises the level adjustment levers 36 to the desired extent, and opens the protractor 32 until its outer protractor shaft 37 is close to the stiffening element, i.e. the support 9. In this way, by reading the degree graduation of the protractor 32, the tilt angle of the antenna 2 can be directly measured.

Claims (19)

PATENT CLAIMS 1 antenna mast 20 half clamps 1. A support structure for at least two planar antennas, in particular for repeater antennas of mobile telecommunications network(s), comprising a stand element, in particular an antenna mast (1), and means for securing the two antennas (2) to the stand element, which are also means for controlling the orientation of the antennas in terms of inclination and azimuth, characterised in that the support structure comprises fixing means for the two antennas (2) carried by the stand element and arranged side by side on it, allowing them to be rotated relative to each other about two hinge axes (23a, 31), by means of which the antennas (2) can be rotated from an arrangement in which the two antennas (2) are located close to each other and oriented in the same azimuth, to an arrangement in which the two antennas (2) are oriented in different azimuths in a position spaced apart from each other. 2 antenna (flat antenna) 21 support base 2. A support structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing means for controlling the orientation of the tilt angle include means allowing the antenna (2) to be tilted around a horizontal axis (24) in addition to the rotation of the antenna (2) about the hinge axis (23a, 31), preferably a hinge assembly (22), arms (25), a horizontal hinge axis (26) and a slot opening (27). 3 fixing unit 22 joint assembly 3. A support structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the eccentric hinge axis (23a, 31) is a vertical axis. 4 clamp 23a (vertical) axis 4. A support structure according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that it comprises a fastening device which is clamped onto the stand element, preferably an antenna mast (1), and carries at least two supporting feet (21) arranged one below the other, extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the antenna mast (1), which define supports for an eccentric hinge axis (23a, 31) of an antenna (2). 5 side flange 24 (horizontal) axis 5. A support structure according to claim 4, characterized in that the fastening device has a plurality of such support feet (21) arranged in pairs. 6 bolt connection 25 lever 6. A support structure for at least one planar antenna, in particular a repeater antenna of a mobile telecommunications network, comprising a stand element, for example an antenna mast (1) and a mounting unit (3) for securing the antenna (2) to the stand element, the mounting unit (3) comprising first connecting means which are attached to the stand element and on which the antenna (2) is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis, and second connecting means for tilting the antenna (2) about a horizontal axis, as controlled by the user, characterised in that the second connecting means comprise at least one arm (8) which is pivotally connected at both ends to the stand element or to other devices mounted thereon, and to the antenna (2) or to devices inserted between the antenna (2) and the arm (8), the hinge axes (10, 11) of the arm (8) being parallel to the antenna. (2) with tilting axes, and these means are designed to allow adjustment of one and/or the other axis in the height direction of the stand element or antenna (2). 7 arm 26 pivot shaft 7a (horizontal) axis 27 slot 7. A support structure according to claim 6, characterized in that the means comprise an intermediate element, preferably a guide and adjustment assembly (13), in which at least one slot opening (12) is formed, in which the hinge shaft (11) is slidably arranged. 8 arm 28 guide and adjustment assembly 8. The support structure according to claim 7, characterized in that the intermediate element, preferably the guide and adjustment assembly (13), comprises an adjustment screw (14) extending parallel to the slot opening (12), which is arranged in cooperation with a screw thread (15) penetrating a hinge shaft (11) connected thereto and arranged movably in the slot opening (12) or an element attached thereto, and with a screw thread also connected thereto and penetrating an element (16) fixed relative to the intermediate element. 9 holder 29 connecting fitting 9. The support structure according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the intermediate element, preferably a guiding and adjusting assembly (13), is mounted on the antenna (2) or on a support (9) carrying it. 10 cardan shaft 30 cardan shaft 10. Support structure according to claim 9, characterized in that the intermediate element, preferably a guide and adjustment assembly (13), is a U-shaped section, which is received by a fittingly shaped section, the latter forming the support (9) carrying the antenna (2). 11 joint shaft 31 (vertical) shaft 11. A support structure according to any one of claims 6-10, characterized in that a clamping device is mounted on the stand element, optionally on the antenna mast (1), where the devices defining the tilt axis of the antenna and the devices defining the hinge axis of the connecting arm(s) are pivotally mounted on the stand element. 12 slots 32 protractor 12. A support structure according to claim 11, characterized in that the fixing means is a fixing clamp (4) which is extended by at least one fixed arm (7), at the end of which the antenna (2) or the support (9) carrying it is connected so as to be pivotable about the horizontal axis (7a). 13 guide and adjustment assembly 33 fixing device 13. The support structure according to claim 12, characterized in that the arm (7) is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the antenna mast (1). 14 adjusting screw 34 bracket 14. A support structure for at least one planar antenna, in particular a mobile telecommunications network repeater antenna, comprising an antenna mast (1) and means for securing the antenna (2) to the antenna mast (1), said means comprising a support on which the antenna (2) is mounted, characterised in that the support comprises at least one support (9) in the form of a stiffening element and a metal reflecting element (18) arranged between the antenna (2) and the stiffening element. 15 screw threads 35 protractor stem 15. The support structure according to claim 14, characterized in that the cross-section of the support (9) formed in the form of a stiffening element is U-shaped. 16 elements 36 leveling lever 16. Device for adjusting the angle of inclination of an antenna (2), especially a planar antenna, mounted on a stand element, such as an antenna mast (1), by means of fastening means allowing the antenna orientation to be controlled, characterized in that: a rigid support (34), - a fixing device (33) for fixing the support (34) to a stand member, for example an antenna mast (1), and - it comprises a protractor (32) consisting of two protractor arms (35, 37) mounted on the support (34) and articulated with each other. 17 37 protractor stem 17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the fastening means (33) is designed as a strap fastening means. 18 (metallic) reflective element P safety protection element 18. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the fastening means (33) is designed as a magnetic fastening means. 19. Device according to any one of claims 16-18, characterized in that it comprises leveling means, preferably leveling arms (36) parallel to each other, for moving the elements forming the protractor (32) relative to the rigid support (34). REFERENCE NUMBERS 19 half cylinder M wall